The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-04


master to have one thing she prohib-
tied.
Cigars were banished; wine, with the
exception OF O tablespoon OF port ev-
cry morning, was thrown out OF the
menu, and everything went on with the
most exact regularity.
At the end OF five months he was
very much better, almost well man,
and walking steadily on to acomplete
cure, and in all that time he had new
er broken his part OF the contract, he
had never even kissed the bright little
girl who was his self-appointed nurse.
physician and wife. "Shc is my wife
really and actually according TO the
laws of the Commonwealth OF Arkan-
sas," he would sometimes say to him
self, consoling himself with that fact.
He had often been sorely tempted,
in these sweet months OF what was
really his courtship, to take her in
his arms and sue for the love he cray
ed so strongly. 1t was bad enough
when he expected to die and leave
her, but now when he knew he should
live, perhaps as long as other men.
and never be able to gain ner love, it
was terrible. And, then, when he con-
templated the parting which must
come soon, he felt that he would rath-
er be an invalid Away, and have her
daily companionship if nothing more.
Still it was something to be well
again, and when the thought OF all her
patience and unwearied kindness, her
noble self-sacrifice, he said to himself
al will be man. ! should be but q
poor coward did / say or do anything
to offend that pure spirit. | will go
away and make no sign. Let her get
her divorce. will see she has suiii-
cient allowance" But it was very
hard for him.
In all this time she had been skill
iul physician, an intelligent student
of his case, considerable, though des-
potie, nurse, and an agreeable com.
panion, nothing more; and when she
found that at last the disease yielded
to her persistent efforts her profession
al enthusiasm knew no bonds. She
had been the cool, careful, passion
less practitioner, now she was the
triumphant victor. She had over
come disease in one OF its most treach-
erous and insidious shapes. She had
conquered death and was radiant with
professional self-congratulations, as
the most learned savant might be.
But apparently the weakness OF a
tender love had not come with gentle
insistence into her cold heart
1t was the morning before Denslow's
departure. Black Care pressed down
his brows, and Gloom had laid its
dark mantel about his shoulders. He
sauntered to the window and looked
out. Bright March sunlight lay on the
mountain, on the white dusty road,
and on the figure OF Madeline, as she
stood there in her white flannel dress,
peeping into the cavernous depths OF
a market wagon, while the same lank
Arkansan fourished his whip over the
straight back OF the patient, unoffend'
ing mules.
So had she stood on that summer
morning months before when Dens-
low had seen her for the first time,
and he turned away sick at heart,
thinking how she was Just rs far
away from him now as then, even
though the law had made her his
property. His property, indeed
And he smiled grimly as he thought
OF any man being able to control that
high.spirited, strong. willed, imperious
girl.
"She has not the slightest idea OF
what love is" he sighed. "She is ut
terly cold and emotionless, save where
her sympathy is temporarily awak'
ened. Even | tire her now that can
no longer be deemed an invalid
"Thar's two as good cookin' hens
as we ever seed in yer life, and haint
nary one on um blind. | lowed We
wouldn't want um ef they wu2, and ct
they he'd q been / wouldn't n brung
UNI"
There was a rattle OF silver coins, a
crack of the long-lashed whip and a
creak OF the mountain-break, and the
market wagon started on, and Mad
oline turned her back INTO the porch
and vanished from her husband 5
sight.
He sat down thinking of the changes
that had been wrought since that first
morning so long ago Then he had
been an invalid waiting :or his collin,
a dying man eking out a few days,
now he was strong and comparative
ly well. He looked at the dumbbells
(his little physicians prescription,
and he felt OF his well-muscled arms,
and threw back his shoulders and let
the bracing March air into his lungs,
and was glad that he had lived.
"Ah, WE'LL" he sighed, man can't
have every thing in this world.
Let me be thankful for what lhave."
He wont AWAY with n heavy heart.